Section 9.36 Energy Efficiency WELCOME 2014 ALBERTA BUILDING CODE Section 9.36 Energy Efficiency

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awareness responsibility standards AGENDA WHY IMPORTANT SECTION 9.36 CALCULATIONS INSULATION AIR BARRIER GOING FOWARD awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards AGENDA Not against 9.36 or “energy efficiency” Balance with other parts of Part 9 and ABC Building code is a minimum, shouldn’t strive to meet the minimum Practical, accept various design solutions for different projects awareness responsibility standards

WHY IMPORTANT

awareness responsibility standards IMPORTANT Represents major update in the building code 32 pages 43 pages in Appendix Total of 75 pages For comparison Acrylic stucco/EIFS – not in current ABC Roof venting – 1 page Roofing = 11 Section 9.27 Cladding – 11 pages Part 5 “Environmental Separation” – 14 pages awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards IMPORTANT Bigger overall impact in commercial, industrial and large buildings Previously no standards and/or minimal requirements for energy performance NECB awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards IMPORTANT Large part of government policy Easier to mandate and inforce for new construction LEED started with original construction, now: NC, CS, CI, EB, ND First step to more comprehensive policies awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards IMPORTANT Commercial all exterior insulation awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards IMPORTANT Main concepts Account for thermal bridging Increasing overall insulation values Improve airtightness awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards IMPORTANT Doesn’t account for: human factors renovations, modifications mistakes or errors awareness responsibility standards

SECTION 9.36

awareness responsibility standards SECTION 9.36 awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards SECTION 9.36 “Prescriptive” vs “Performance” 9.36.5 Performance references many parts of 9.36.2-.4 Prescriptive awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards SECTION 9.36 Prescriptive Simple - specific checklist Tradeoff – “trading” better performance on some items for other items, only above ground Performance build a computer model “reference” vs. “proposed” NECB awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards SECTION 9.36 Choose method early on in design Build in a safety factor Be aware of areas you have a buffer during construction Concerned about performance method very specific rules (almost “prescriptive”) HOT2000 has 16% accuracy What if assumptions inaccurate/change? awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards SECTION 9.36 The performance option does not use the same glazing distribution in both the reference and proposed buildings. NRCAN study showed “Savings depend largely on the type and cost of fuel used for heating, and the distribution of the window area by orientation.” Allows software with accuracy of 16% and 0 safety factor. Build same as before, doesn’t meet INTENT. Major flaw in the methodology. Caution, if other problems and can be shown that assumptions in model were incorrect, expensive problem to change all wall insulation. Similarities between ½” stucco. Don’t do it because “everyone else is doing it”. Make an educated choice. awareness responsibility standards

CALCULATIONS

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS RSI vs R (thermal resistance) RSI = Metric (K·m2/W) R Value = Imperial (h·ft2·°F/Btu) Convert = RSI X 5.67826 = R U-value = Thermal transmittance = inverse Actual material value if known Code values from tables, not averages Thickness important, performance varies at different thicknesses and conditions Long term values awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS Previously nominal R values, only considered insulating materials Now “effective RSI”, metric and whole assembly Account for framing and all parts of wall assembly More accurate, requires more up front info awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS Triple glazed in most cases awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS Previously R34 roof, now R50eff Flat/cathedral R28.5eff Previously R20 walls, now R17eff (R24+nominal) awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS Considerations Framing type and spacing Cladding type Changes from EIFS to stucco Actual product data Assume low values or code Not averages Check thicknesses, varies depending on thickness (spray foam) Compressed insulation awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS All paths need to calculate effective RSI (needed for “reference” model) Basic math rules Convert all to RSI Rules of significant figures (rounding errors) Adding up all components Parallel path method for layer with multiple components Leave some leeway for construction errors/changes, expensive mistake awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS Trade off Most projects Not below grade Most effective for walls, unique windows awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards CALCULATIONS Likely to see increase in exterior insulation Moisture barrier locations Check for double vapour barriers Complex wall assemblies Stucco/stone over foam-fastening awareness responsibility standards

INSULATION

awareness responsibility standards INSULATION Slab edge detail Talk to structural Suggest having interior and exterior option *Manitoba Government 9.36 Presentation awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards INSULATION *Manitoba Government 9.36 Presentation awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards INSULATION Sequencing Moisture barrier Strapping Cladding support Fire and limiting distance considerations awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards INSULATION Structural penetrations Specific insulation requirements Section 9.36.2.5.2) Structural steel May or may not be accounted for What if size/shape changes? What if isn’t aligned? awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards INSULATION awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards INSULATION Insulation continuity Check with trades on installation awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards INSULATION Penetrations can’t decrease overall insulation value Changing materials may not work Potential air pockets, discontinuities, compressed insulation *CHBA 9.36 Presentation awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards INSULATION Check with thermal camera, point temperatures Flir makes Flir One for smart phones check before drywall awareness responsibility standards

AIR BARRIER

awareness responsibility standards AIR BARRIER 9.36.2.9 Airtightness 9.36.2.10 Construction of Air Barrier Details Important to understand designers intent and system(s) used Clarify on drawings Air, vapour, moisture barriers Easier with commercial, all in one systems awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards AIR BARRIER Air barrier is system Requires continuity Also refer back to 9.25.3. Vapour barrier material Refer back to 9.25.4. Requires permeance not greater than 60 ng/(Pa.s.m2) On wrong side of wall for several months of the year with A/C awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards AIR BARRIER Focus during poly/insulation inspections *RDH Superinsulated Building Enclosures awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards AIR BARRIER Structurally supported *City of Calgary 9.36 Presentation awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards AIR BARRIER Some key areas Spray foam to poly joints Around windows If deficiencies called, clarify if air or vapour barrier and code violation We can address correct issue awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards AIR BARRIER Thermal camera also helps Blower door – overall value (ACH) Smoke pencil awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards AIR BARRIER Trade damage After occupancy Hang tv, pictures = holes in poly Run cables, especially in attic Add an outlet DOCUMENT awareness responsibility standards

GOING FORWARD

awareness responsibility standards GOING FORWARD POSITIVE Potential for reduced energy use More involvement of professionals due to complex design, calculation requirements and AHJ requirements Potential for increased awareness about building envelope issues awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards GOING FORWARD NEGATIVES Increased design cost and time Increased first cost Less time/money for site quality control and resources for critical details Focus on airtightness and lack of focus on major failure areas Lack of breathability of envelopes with moisture intrusion Increase in insulation without consideration for human factor, design and embodied energy Cost/benefit analysis Lack of consideration for reduced energy use of proper design Smaller footprint, south facing, thermal mass, etc. Conflicts with other parts of the ABC awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards GOING FORWARD Strange things Low density concrete Double drywall Changing joist spacing during construction Framing spacing/amount verified by structural Tall walls Some areas can’t have 24” o.c. awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards GOING FORWARD Things to watch for 2020 NBC Refinement of 9.36 Potentially even higher insulation amounts Don’t ignore rest of Part 9 awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards QUESTIONS Questions awareness responsibility standards

awareness responsibility standards Thank you If you have any further questions please contact us. Dana Bjornson 403.990.3369 dana@optimizeengineering.com awareness responsibility standards